WIN FATHER’S DAY BOOKS FOR DAD

Fathers may not shout about it, but they really do like being pampered now and again.

It seems your stoic dad may be a big softie who wants to be showered with extra love and presents at least once a year. A Paper Plus survey, ahead of next Sunday’s Father’s Day, indicates 41 per cent of Kiwi dads want their family to make them feel special — even if they aren’t keen to admit to it.

Auckland University of Technology senior lecturer and men’s counselling specialist Warwick Pudney says despite their cool demeanour, Kiwi dads want to feel important, especially on the day dedicated to them.

“Kiwi fathers tend to be fairly humble and more private than the loud or ‘look at me’ expressiveness in the American role models we see in media. This isn’t bad, it just means they can be easily overlooked as being unemotional or even uncaring. “In extreme cases they turn into wallpaper or build a life outside the home.

“It ’s everyone’s job, no matter what our age or role in a family, to include dads and let them know they are important.”

The survey, conducted through the Paper Plus Big Deal VIP Club database of 1120 New Zealand fathers, also finds many dads feel mothers are given more special treatment than they are.

Seventy per cent feel people make more of an effort to treat mums on Mother’s Day, than dads on Father’s Day.

More than half, 56 per cent, are sad this is the case. Seventy-three per cent want to get a present on the

day — although 37 per cent of dads don’t want to concede this.

Paper Plus Group CEO Sam Shosanya says it is interesting to see the tough Kiwi dad persona common in New Zealand is a front for many. “It ’s a day to celebrate and give thanks to dads for what they do for the family.”